Calibrachoa plant named ‘Docalalkodare 22’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Docalalkodare 22’, characterized by its compact, outwardly spreading, trailing and decumbent plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large flowers with dark red-colored petals; and good container and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa parviflora.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOCALALKODARE 22’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/orApplicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior artexception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior tothe filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filingdate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa parviflora andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Docalalkodare 22’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new freely branching and early-floweringCalibrachoa plants with numerous large and attractive flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in July, 2018 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietaryselection of Calibrachoa parviflora identified as code number AA-0622,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Calibrachoa parviflora identified as code numberAA17-011037-001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newCalibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg,Germany in May, 2021.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germanysince June, 2021 has shown that the unique features of this newCalibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Docalalkodare 22’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Docalalkodare 22’ as a newand distinct Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1 Compact, outwardly spreading, trailing and decumbent plant        habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large flowers with dark red-colored petals.    -   6. Good container and garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants ofthe female parent selection in growth habit as plants of the newCalibrachoa are more compact than plants of the female parent selection.In addition, flowers of plants of the new Calibrachoa are darker red incolor than flowers of plants of the female parent selection.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants ofthe male parent selection in growth habit as plants of the newCalibrachoa are more compact than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants ofCalibrachoa sp. ‘Klecal7038’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,835.In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differprimarily from plants of ‘Klecal7038’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more compact than and not        as vigorous as plants of ‘Klecal7038’.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have narrower and darker        green-colored leaves than plants of ‘Klecal7038’.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Calibrachoa are darker red in        color than fowers of plants of ‘Klecal7038’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Docalalkodare 22’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of atypical flower of ‘Docalalkodare 22’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the spring and early summer in22-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany andunder cultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production.During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Rooted young plants werepinched one time three weeks after planting. Plants were twelve weeksold when the photographs were taken and 25 weeks old when thedescription was taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa parviflora ‘Docalalkodare 22’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa parviflora identified as code number AA-0622,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa parviflora identified as code number            AA17-011037-001, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; close to 158A in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, outwardly spreading to            trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely branching habit            with about five primary lateral branches each with about            eight secondary lateral branches developing per plant;            pinching enhances branching; dense and full appearance;            moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 13.5            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 14.5            cm.        -   Plant diameter (spread of plant).—About 55 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 27 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3.5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading to trailing            and decumbent.        -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; glossy.        -   Color, developing and developed.—Close to 144C; color            becoming closer to 199C with subsequent development.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, and after            flowering, opposite; simple.        -   Length.—About 2.9 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent;            matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,            close to 144C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, close to 144C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.3 mm. Diameter: About 1.1 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface:            Close to 144C. Color, lower surface: Close to 144D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers            arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually            about 212 flowers and flower buds developing per plant;            flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of            the new Calibrachoa initiate and develop flowers about six            weeks after planting; plants flower continuously from the            spring throughout the summer in Germany.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten            days on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 5.3 mm.            Shape: Elongated oblong. Texture and luster: Rippled;            semi-glossy. Color: Close to 71A.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3.3 cm by 3.6 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 3.3 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 7 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 1.6 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter.—About 7 mm.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and            opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:            About 1.7 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.6 cm. Petal shape:            Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin:            Entire; slightly undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Petal, when opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close            to 46A; venation, close to 187A; color becoming closer to            45B with subsequent development. Petal, fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 60C; venation, close to 200A; color            becoming closer to 60D with subsequent development. Throat:            Close to 12A; venation, close to 187A. Tube: Close to 1A;            venation, close to 187A.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped calyx with five sepals;            sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 1.1 cm. Sepal            width: About 2.8 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex:            Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color: When developing            and fully developed, upper surface: Close to 141A. When            developing and fully developed, lower surface: Close to            141B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Angle: About 45° from stein axis. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close            to 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower.            Filament length: About 1 cm. Filament color: Close to 150C.            Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther            color: Close to 8A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:            Close to 16B. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil            length: About 1.2 cm. Style length: About 9 mm. Style color:            Close to 144C. Stigma diameter: About 0.8 mm. Stigma shape:            Ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to 144C. Ovary color: Close            to 149A. Fruits: Quantity produced per plant: About 320 per            plant. Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to N199C. Seeds: Quantity per            flower: About 50. Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 200B.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed    to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain,    temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. and to be    suitable for USDA Hardiness Zone 11.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Calibrachoa    have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common    to Calibrachoa plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named‘Docalalkodare 22’ as illustrated and described.